falter
verb (used without object)
to hesitate or waver in action, purpose, intent, etc.; give way.
were faltering
-
past progressiveof falter.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even when they were faltering in the fourth quarter amid a one-for-15 shooting streak, the Lakers showed their resilience with a gritty defensive effort that kept them in the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026
Holders Australia were thrashed by New Zealand in the opening game of their own World Cup and were faltering against Sri Lanka until Marcus Stoinis suddenly combined tree-trunk arms with the eye of Don Bradman.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2022
It soon became clear that the odds of a deal were faltering.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 20, 2022
I was not upgrading my trusty iPhone 6—a four-year-old device—for any of those features, but because its screen and battery were faltering.
From Slate ● Jan. 3, 2019
Even the garrons of the northmen were faltering for want of fodder.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
